Launch of The Move it or Lose it Club
Why have you set up an online club?
We know there’s nothing quite like getting together in person to exercise and socialise. Normally tens of thousands of people would be doing just that all across the UK at our Move it or Lose it classes. With social distancing and restrictions on how many people are allowed to gather indoors to exercise, many of our classes are unable to run. As this may continue for some time, we wanted to provide a safe alternative to bring all the benefits of a class online. It can’t replace a class but it’s a great alternative to help keep people active and stay connected.
It’s also an opportunity to ‘meet’ people from all walks of life, not just those in your local area at a class. As much as we’d love classes in every town it’s not realistic at the moment, so this gives more people the opportunity to experience Move it or Lose it. Of course, we still want people to attend classes when they are up and running, so it can be an ‘as well as’ rather than ‘instead of’ for many. The club is about much more than exercise and gives you the opportunity to try something new and tell us what you want to try.
Who is it for?
This is for anyone who has been impacted by the coronavirus and may not be able (or feel safe) to participate in their usual activities. Staying active – physically, mentally and socially – is vital for good health especially for the 15 million people in the UK with health conditions which make them less likely to participate in typical keep-fit classes. This includes people with hearing or vision problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or breathing problems, depression, dementia, cancer, or those caring for someone with health problems.
What does the club offer?
There’s a wide range of activities as the club has three areas: the exercise, social and live club. You may want to just pick and choose from the wide range of exercises that include keep fit, strength, balance and stretching routines. Or you may join because you want to try new things out and connect with others in a safe and welcoming environment. Or you can do both! We want the club to offer the types of activities that you enjoy so we can respond to your needs.
How does it work?
You join the club which is £4.99 per month and you can cancel your subscription at any time. You get a password so you can log in to access the club then choose what you want to do. We’ll have a weekly itinerary of activities on the social and live club such as hobbies and crafts, music, relaxation, creative writing, book club and top tips for living longer better. Some sessions will be pre-recorded and you can view these whenever you choose; some will be live sessions so you can comment in real time.
Who is involved?
We are thrilled to have received funding from Sport England and The National Lottery to help us develop our Move it or Lose it Club as part of their Tackling Inequalities Fund. This fund has been designed to minimise the impact of coronavirus on the activity levels of people from under-represented groups, ensuring that the participation gaps do not widen during this period. The funding will allow us to create a safe space for our online club members and also help our network of instructors by funding them to contribute videos so the content is regularly updated and engaging.
What kind of exercises are included?
There is a wide range of exercises so you can dip in and out of the club whenever you choose, from 5 or 10 minute exercise sessions to full 30 minute routines. You can choose whether to do the exercises seated or standing. There are exercises for flexibility, heart health (aerobics), balance and strength (FABS). There’s also activities for coordination and brain games. All are delivered by specialist instructors who make exercise fun, effective and enjoyable.